Grim YouTube video goes viral, gives drivers reason to slow down

A public service announcement has been viewed more than 1.8 million times and received comments showing the message is striking a chord.

Emily Eyring

The New Zealand Transport Agency posted a one-minute ad created by Clemenger BBDO on Jan. 5 as part of a campaign that "encourages the audience to be conscious of other road users and to choose a safer speed that factors in the chance for human error," according to nzta.govt.nz.
The video, titled "Mistakes," features a father and son making a turn in one car and a man speeding toward the intersection they are leaving in another. Time is frozen for a moment as the father and the man step out of their cars and discuss the roles they are about to play in the impending crash.
The video has been viewed more than 3 million times and received comments showing the message is striking a chord.
"Next time you drive faster than the speed limit, ask yourself: Is there tragedy in my future? In someone else's future? Hopefully, this compelling, thought-provoking video will encourage folks to ease off the accelerator," Steven Gursten commented.
Twitter users are also sharing the public service announcement, calling it "powerful," "devastating," "haunting" and "unforgettable."
An explanation of the ad campaign on the NZ Transport Agency website notes that "speed is still a contributing factor in 20 percent of all fatal and serious injury crashes on New Zealand roads."%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A//beacon.deseretconnect.com/beacon.gif%3Fcid%3D136399%26pid%3D46%22%20/%3E